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It was a pleasure to receive a review copy of the new EP from The Albion Band last week, the pleasure coming from both the concept and the contents.

A bit like the six degrees of separation, surely most British people by now know somebody who was once in, around, or has performed with, The Albion Band. Such is the majesty of their reach, that their names are legion, for they are many.

So The Albion Band is perhaps something more of a project name rather than a specific group of people, except for one central point, Ashley Hutchings, founder of The Albion Band, and also key person in the formation of Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span – for pity’s sake.

But that’s where this new incarnation is different – this is The Albion Band sans Ashley Hutchings, (except for a bit of lurking) and led instead by his son, the accomplished Blair Dunlop, on guitars and vox.

Their new release, an EP called ‘Fighting Room’ showcases Dunlop and co’s take on the Albion sound, which is a distinctly folk rock groove, reminiscent of the old days of the Albions, but also firmly up to date.

Dunlop and his cohort of Gavin Davenport, Katriona Gilmore, Tom Wright and Tim Yates deliver a energetic blast of sonic excellence with five classic slices of folk rock, led by the Thieves’ Song, penned by Davenport himself. Beside the last song on the disc, a new rendering of Tucker Zimmerman’s Taoist Tale, the Thieves’ Song is my favourite on the release, lyrically it is a burning reminder of folk’s political inclinations, and musically would stand up well in the repertiore of any of the best folk rock acts.

The Fighting Room EP is a great start for this latest version of The Albion Band, and personally I look forward to hearing much more from them, you can buy it at The Albion Band online store, where you can also pick up some of their previous output.

It’s something of a milestone in the evolution of The Albion Band, and hopefully as a new unit we’ll be hearing much more from them over the coming months and years.

I work for Oasis UK as hub Chaplain to two the Oasis Academies in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire (UK).

I also facilitate Oasis Church Grimsby, a gathering of people who meet together regularly, and who understand Church to be innovative, inclusive and involved, and I chair the North East Lincs Interfaith Forum.

My interests are varied, and many of them find their way on to this blog.